Comments on: Independent 7,778/Crosophilehttp://www.fifteensquared.net/2011/09/20/independent-7778crosophile/
Never knowingly undersolved.Tue, 31 Mar 2015 21:30:24 +0000hourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=4.1.1By: Auntiquarianhttp://www.fifteensquared.net/2011/09/20/independent-7778crosophile/#comment-170132
Wed, 21 Sep 2011 10:03:01 +0000http://fifteensquared.net/?p=34538#comment-170132I thought the Golding theme was elegantly introduced, particularly the arrangement of 1A and 29A. I struggled (i.e. failed) to get BIOMASS: ‘bits’ is a bit of a stretch as a synonym for ‘initial letters’ and the clue as a whole as a literal definition is somewhat cloudy. But these are just attempted excuses for my inadequacy.

‘Instance of traffic’ might refer to any deal, not necessarily one involving drugs.

]]>By: Kathryn's Dadhttp://www.fifteensquared.net/2011/09/20/independent-7778crosophile/#comment-170123
Wed, 21 Sep 2011 08:10:38 +0000http://fifteensquared.net/?p=34538#comment-170123I was going to say that I liked POTASSIUM in particular, and the definition is entirely fair: put a small piece of potassium into water and you’ll get a display that flashling would be proud of.
]]>By: Crosophilehttp://www.fifteensquared.net/2011/09/20/independent-7778crosophile/#comment-170121
Wed, 21 Sep 2011 07:53:12 +0000http://fifteensquared.net/?p=34538#comment-170121Wil, glad it was mostly enjoyed. I rarely remember my own clues (giving me a very authentic solving experience for my own puzzles!) and I admit DEAL was the last I got, too. (Triple definition, as others have correctly noted.) Nonetheless Chambers specifically and correctly defines it as ‘soft wood’, and incidentally it is also softwood, though not as soft as balsa say which, unlike deal, is hardwood. Hope that clarifies things!
Re Potassium, most elements don’t create a flame on contact with water for instance. Potassium is more reactive than any other element except for Rubidium, Caesium or Francium so I think it’s fair to describe it as reactive. (Incidentally some elements, the noble gases such as helium) don’t react at all.)
]]>By: Wil Ransomehttp://www.fifteensquared.net/2011/09/20/independent-7778crosophile/#comment-170114
Tue, 20 Sep 2011 23:49:57 +0000http://fifteensquared.net/?p=34538#comment-170114Largely enjoyed, but I took ages over DEAL and even having put it in I wasn’t sure about it. Surely deal is a hard wood so it will be hard to cut, and to say ‘it’s not hard to cut it’ seems odd. And I was surprised by the statement in 19ac that potassium is a reactive element: surely all elements are reactive, in that they react with something. Perhaps I’m missing some special quality of potassium.
]]>By: flashlinghttp://www.fifteensquared.net/2011/09/20/independent-7778crosophile/#comment-170109
Tue, 20 Sep 2011 22:05:25 +0000http://fifteensquared.net/?p=34538#comment-170109Had a bit of a head cold today and so struggled with this and didn’t finish despite spotting the theme early on, but as I’m ridiculouly I’ll read missed several thematic entries. Hope brain fog is gone by Thursday. Cheers Ali and ChrisP
]]>By: Crosophilehttp://www.fifteensquared.net/2011/09/20/independent-7778crosophile/#comment-170103
Tue, 20 Sep 2011 20:15:34 +0000http://fifteensquared.net/?p=34538#comment-170103Thanks for the blog, Ali and for spotting the Centenary occasion. Glad you enjoyed the puzzle. And thanks for all the comments. I think ‘Spire’ was the last remaining thematic reference to find.
]]>By: Mikehttp://www.fifteensquared.net/2011/09/20/independent-7778crosophile/#comment-170101
Tue, 20 Sep 2011 19:38:09 +0000http://fifteensquared.net/?p=34538#comment-170101Spire is also a reference
]]>By: Bambergerhttp://www.fifteensquared.net/2011/09/20/independent-7778crosophile/#comment-170097
Tue, 20 Sep 2011 16:56:45 +0000http://fifteensquared.net/?p=34538#comment-170097Way beyond my ability level -only got half a dozen out but only real gripe is 1a where I don’t think that a winner would really boast “I am gold” -I’ve won gold , I’m the best but I am gold? I don’t think so.
]]>By: Kathryn's Dadhttp://www.fifteensquared.net/2011/09/20/independent-7778crosophile/#comment-170092
Tue, 20 Sep 2011 15:53:08 +0000http://fifteensquared.net/?p=34538#comment-170092Thanks, Ali. Enjoyed this one and its mini-theme, although several of the references escaped me. I wasn’t keen on the definition of MANATEES either, but a small quibble in a pleasing puzzle.
]]>By: malc95http://www.fifteensquared.net/2011/09/20/independent-7778crosophile/#comment-170075
Tue, 20 Sep 2011 13:16:32 +0000http://fifteensquared.net/?p=34538#comment-170075Thanks Ali.

Another reference is in the clues to 12 & 13a – “Darkness Visible”.
It’s a pity Crosophile couldn’t squeeze “The Pyramid” into 24a somehow – or even the “Egyptian Journal”.